Dual sofa bed



Dec. 27, 1960 GALLQWAY 2,965,908

DUAL SOFA BED Filed Oct. 21, 1958 IN V EN TOR.

A 04; 4% 6a//0 Way United States Patent Office 2,965,908 Patented Dec. 27, 1960 2,965,908 DUAL SOFA BED Ralph M. Galloway, 601 S. Audubon Ave., Tampa, Fla. Filed Oct. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 768,597 5 Claims. (Cl. 5-18) This invention relates to dual sofa beds and is particularly concerned with sofa beds of the type in which a unit or auxiliary bed section is slidable to and from a position beneath the body of the sofa proper. Upon outward sliding movement of the auxiliary unit to a position juxtaposed to the sofa seat the auxiliary or lower unit takes a position to receive a mattress, usually one-half of a longitudinal mattress supported, when the auxiliary unit is not in use, upon the conventional spring frame of the sofa. Upon the extension of the lower frame unit and outfolding of the mattress, the structure defines a unitary double bed.

Dual sofa beds of the character designed are conventionally characterized by the provision of an elongate spring unit. Such units are formed with a rectangular peripheral frame mounting tension springs which form the primary support for a mattress or seat cushions. Since such springs place the side rails of the frame under transverse tension, rigid intermediate crossbraces are frequently provided to resist inward curvature of the longitudinal side rails under such tension. It is, of course, desirable that the tension springs be free to yield downwardly under pressure throuhgout the entire length of the frame. Straight, rigid crossbraces, while adequately resisting deformation of the side rails preclude downward yieldability of the spring assembly in the immediate vicinity of such straight crossbraces. Therefore, intermediate braces are conventionally formed in truss style with coaxial horizontal ends fixedly secured to the side rails and with a central body spaced substantially below the springs thus giving a free field of movement of the entire spring platform in response to the applied weight of an occupant. While this construction is admirably suited for the auxiliary or lower bed unit, a construction of this type rigidly secured between the rails of the sofa itself provides a downwardly extending obstruction to the free movement of an auxiliary member, such as a companion bed uni to and from position under the sofa body.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel and improved means for the transverse bracing of the side rails of a spring frame, of the character defined, against the transverse tension of its springs. More particularly, the objects of the invention include that of providing brace means which will not inhibit the freedom of movement of auxiliary mechanism under the spring structure with which they are associated. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pivotally mounted transverse crossbrace which may be moved in such manner as to permit freedom of movement of auxiliary mechanism beneath a spring structure while normally spaced below its spring structure to permit freedom of spring movement.

In that form of the invention, here presented by way of illustration, the brace member is formed as an integral rigid bar of typical cantilever formation having coaxial ends associated by an angular intermediate portion with an elongate straight central body lying in spaced parallel relation to the axis of the ends. As here shown, two such crossbraces are arranged in intermediate spaced relation across the spring frame. The crossbraces are pivotally connected with respect to the side rails to permit the central portion to lie in vertical spaced relation to the spring platform permitting free spring depression and to permit raising of the central portion to parallelism with the springs, clearing the space therebelow for movement of auxiliary devices. Mechanism is provided for the control of such pivotal movement, in the present instancesuch mechanism is shown as in the form of a manually operated cord. After the crossbraces have been raised by the cord to horizontal position they are free to yield under pressure, pivotally returning to vertical position.

The foregoing objects, together with numerous other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a spring assembly formed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the spring assembly of Figure 1 as arranged in a dual sofa bed;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a dual sofa bed formed in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail illustration of the construction and mounting of one end of one of the crossbraces.

Referring now to Figure l of the drawings, there is illustrated a generally conventional rectangular frame including parallel side rails illustrated as formed of angle iron, the side rails being arranged as illustrated in detail in Figure 4 with vertical sides 10 and inwardly extending lower horizontal flanges 11. Between the side rails there are provided tension springs 12, the ends of which are engaged in any suitable manner with the side rails to form a yieldable horizontal spring platform within the periphery of the frame. It is, of course, understood that in a normal position of repose the tension springs extend horizontally in the plane of the frame and that in both a position of repose and under load, inward tension is applied to the side rails. In the construction here shown, a cover 14 of canvas or like wear resistant fabric is provided, suitably engaged with the frame at its sides and ends by flexible, resilient securing elements 15. In Figure l, the cover 14 is broken away to illustrate the springs therebeneath and the crossbraces.

It will be understood that while in the present construction the frame is illustrated as the bed or seat frame of a couch, sofa or davenport, the present inventive concept is in no way limited to this particular application. The frame and crossbracing of the present invention may be used in connection with various types of furniture wherein crossbracing is desired between frame rails subject to deforming tension. Nor is the invention limited to the specific structural details herein shown or described. The frame may be of other than the angle metallic construction here illustrated, the transverse springs may be other than of the type illustrated and the invention is applicable to frames other than rectangular.

To preclude the inward deformation of the side rails under the tension of the springs there is provided one or more rigid crossbraces 16. As here shown the crossbraces are two in number arranged in intermediate spaced transverse relation. Each crossbrace is formed in cantilever fashion, being provided with coaxial ends .17 merging with inclined intermediate portions 18 which in turn merge with a central straight body portion 19 having a longitudinal axis parallel to and spaced from the axis of the ends.

In normal present day construction, the terminal ends of the cantilever type crossbraces of the type referred to are fixedly secured between the rails to extend in a vertical plane, the incline members extending inwardly and downwardly to space the central body portion be- As hereinbefore mentioned, such downward extension, while permitting freedom of spring displacement, pre seats a rigid obstacle interfering with the free movement of objects to and from a position under the frame. Therefore, the present invention provides for the pivotal mounting of the ends 17 of the crossbraces in escutcheons 20 provided on the inner face of the vertical sides of the rails. As illustrated in detail in Figure 4, the escutcheon 20 being welded or otherwise permanently secured to the inner face of the sides 10, present annular receptors for the outer terminals of the ends 17 which are retained and freely rotatable therein.

For effecting the pivotal movement of the crossbraces to raise them from a normal depending vertical position to a horizontal position, freeing the under area of the spring frame for movement thereunder of the auxiliary bed unit indicated generally by the numeral 23 of Figure 3, or its equivalent, an interconnecting cord 24 is provided. As shown in Figure 4, the cord 24 may be attached to the front inclined portions 18 of each crossbrace. A convenient form of securement precluding relative movement of the secured ends of the cord is by way of rods 25 welded or otherwise secured at the bend of the crossbraces. Where a cover, such as the canvas 14, is provided over the springs, the cords extend upwardly from their engagement With the crossbraces through eyelets 26 of the cover to expose the central portion of the cord above the cover to be readily grasped when the crossbraces are to be elevated, permitting insertion or withdrawal of the auxiliary member from beneath the spring frame of the sofa proper.

It will be understood that should the crossbraces be in horizontal plane, the weight of an occupant on the frame will depress the springs which will strike the central portion of the crossbraces and pivot them downwardly to permit free movement of the entire length of the spring structure. When it is desired to retract or withdraw the auxiliary member such as the companion bed unit, the normal cushions illustrated at 27 in Figure 3 are raised and the hand of the operator grasps the central portion of the cord 24 in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2, raising the cord and thereby causing an inward folding by pivotal movement of the central and otherwise depending portion of the crossbraces. Such crossbraces are thus raised to parallel horizontal position beneath the spring structure, leaving the space therebelow free for sliding movement of the auxiliary member. Upon release of the cord, the brace members are free to resume their vertical position in response to the application of weight on the spring structure thereabove.

In that form of the invention here shown, the auxiliary structure 23 is illustrated as provided with similar cantilever type crossbraces 30 which, however, may be rigidly secured in the present conventional manner. The auxiliary companion bed structure 23 may be supported by legs 31 and conventional casters 32. The height of its spring frame, indicated at 33, is such as to permit the auxiliary companion bed unit to slide freely beneath the spring frame of the sofa proper. It will be understood, of course, that the mattress which constitutes the seat of the sofa when it is in use as a sofa rather than a bed, may be folded out to rest upon the spring structure of the auxiliary companion bed unit, the unfolded mattress sections being such as to conform in thickness to provide a uniform bed mattress of double bed size.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides for the effective and efficient crossbracing of a spring unit by permitting full freedom of spring depression under weight, while providing means by which the depending elements of the bracing structure may be moved out of the area of movement of any auxiliary unit which may be arranged for insertion or withdrawal from under the body of the sofa itself. It will be seen that the present structure is simple, easy to manipulate, and

designed to meet the demands of economic manufacture. Obviously, numerous changes, modifications and the full use of equivalents may be resorted to in the practice of the invention without departure from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. The combination in a sofa of a rectangular spring frame including parallel side rails, tension springs mounted across said rails operable to apply inwardly deforming tension on said side rails, a parallel pair of cantilever type rigid crossbraces having central portions adapted to extend below said springs, pivotal means for mounting said crossbraces between said rails and means for pivotally moving said crossbraces to lift said central portions toward the plane of said tension springs when said springs are in repose.

2. The combination in a sofa of a rectangular spring frame including parallel side rails, tension springs mounted across said rails operable to apply inwardly deforming tension on said side rails, a parallel pair of cantilever type rigid crossbraces having central portions adapted to extend below said springs, pivotal means for mounting said crossbraces between said rails and means for pivotally moving said crossbraces to lift said central portions toward the plane of said tension springs when said springs are in repose, said means including a flexible cord extending between said crossbraces.

3. A dual sofa bed including a sofa, a rectangular spring frame for said sofa including parallel side rails, tension springs mounted across said frame applicable to apply inward deformation to said side rails, a pair of parallel cantilever type rigid crossbraces for said frame including central portions adapted to be positioned below said frame, a slidable auxiliary bed unit adapted to be moved to and from beneath said frame in the space occupied by the crossbrace portions when positioned below said frame, and means for moving said portions from said space, said means including the pivotal mounting of said crossbraces and manually operable device interengaging said crossbraces.

4. A dual sofa bed including a sofa, a rectangular spring frame for said sofa including parallel side rails, tension springs mounted across said frame applicable to apply inward deformation to said side rails, a pair of parallel cantilever type rigid crossbraces for said frame including central portions adapted to be positioned below said frame, a slidable auxiliary bed unit adapted to be moved to and from beneath said frame in the space occupied by the central portions when positioned below said frame, and means for moving said portions from said space, said means including escutcheons on said rail for the pivotal mounting of said crossbraces and a manually operable cord device interengaging said crossbraces at the forward end thereof.

5. The combination in a sofa of a rectangular spring frame including parallel side rails, tension springs mounted across said rails operable to apply inwardly deforming tension on said side rails, a cantilever type rigid crossbrace having a central portion adapted to extend below said springs, pivotal means for mounting said crossbrace between said rails and means for pivotally moving said crossbrace to lift said central portions toward the plane of said tension springs when said springs are in repose.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 357,558 Kunkel et al. Feb. 8, 1887 466,305 Holds Dec. 29, 1891 517,891 Shulerud Apr. 10, 1894 2,635,256 Driskill Apr. 21, 1953 2,712,137 Hunter July 5, 1955 2,783,479 'Bartolucci Mar. 5, 1957 FQREIGN PATENTS 1l8,1 1 swpgien Feb. 11, 1947 

